Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Improvement? (4)
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『The Hero came from another world in response to the Goddess's call.』
『From a country called 'Republic of Korea' on a planet called 'Earth'.』
There were others from Earth besides me. Even from the same Republic of Korea.
As I read on, I noticed some differences from my own situation.
First, I'm a reincarnator, but this person was a transmigrator—they came over in their original body.
Second, I'm a guy, but this person is a woman.
Third, I'm a pathetic mess, but this person is currently the king of this country.
No wonder things felt off. There had been more than a few suspicious signs lately.
In human villages, I'd often spot items that seemed imported straight from Korea. Even this book was written in Korean.
Turned out, after this person became king, they introduced Korean culture here.
With trembling hands, I turned to the next page.
...
...
...Thud.
I closed the book halfway through.
My hands were no longer just trembling—they were shaking uncontrollably.
Cold sweat poured down my back until it was soaked.
I went to find Lucy again.
As I reached out to tap her shoulder, her back suddenly felt strangely unfamiliar, making me freeze.
Lucy turned around before I even touched her. She'd sensed my presence.
The moment our eyes met, I flinched like a rabbit staring down a tiger.
"What is it."
Lucy asked with a blank expression.
[By any chance, are any of the people I've met in the Hero's party from that book?]
I scribbled on my notepad, suppressing the tremor in my hand as best I could.
"Yes."
[Who, exactly?]
"Me, Sera, and Kasha."
It was just as I feared. I'd hoped it wasn't true, but it was.
[Thank you for answering.]
Feeling my stomach twist, I returned to where I'd been reading.
I opened the book and double-checked the passage I'd just read.
[The Hero had four companions of different races. A human, a beastkin, a dragon, and an elf.]
[The human's name was Celestia.]
[Former saintess of the church, chosen by the Goddess to join the Hero.]
[The beastkin's name was Kasha.]
[From the eastern plains, she joined after being impressed by the Hero's prowess.]
[The dragon's name was Lucilia Pride.]
[From the northern eternal snow mountains, drawn by curiosity to join.]
[The elf's name was Elia Forest.]
[From the western woods, joined to protect the World Tree.]
All the people I knew were from the Hero's party. It felt like a sucker punch to the back of the head.
The shock cleared up a ton of questions I'd had all this time at once.
Why Sera was so strong and wealthy.
Why Kasha's kicks hurt so damn much.
How Lucy was so good at magic.
Turns out they were all big shots in their prime.
I've been hanging out with these legends this whole time?
I'm just a goblin who keels over from a light tap... Talk about feeling left out.
For now, let's finish reading.
I started reading the book again.
It felt like sneaking a peek at an old graduation photo of acquaintances.
...Thud. I closed the final page.
If I had to sum up the book's plot simply:
A corrupt kingdom and an evil Demon King.
The Hero arrives to save humanity in its hour of crisis.
A saintess, beastkin, elf, and dragon. A two-year journey with his companions.
They ultimately succeed in sealing the Demon King. He founds a kingdom, ushering in prosperity and progress.
It was a classic hero-fantasy storyline.
But this wasn't a novel—it was this world's actual history.
And right now, I'm living alongside the people from that history.
My chest swelled with awe...
-Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the lab door.
"Come in."
Lucy paused her magic circle drawing.
The door swung open boldly.
"I'm here!"
Kasha strode into the lab with spirited steps.
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on me and sticking there.
"Hey~."
She flashed a cheeky grin with her bubbly greeting.
My swelling chest deflated in an instant.
Having just read about Kasha's achievements, she felt even more intimidating than usual.
"What do you want."
"Just came to hang out. Got nothing to do and I'm bored."
Yeah, right. She's clearly here to mess with me.
"No business? Then leave."
Lucy said in a dry tone.
Yes! Good job! Please chase her out!
"Aw, why so cold~."
"This place is full of fragile equipment. If you go wild, it'll all break."
"Why would I go wild out of nowhere? You think I'm some kinda monster?"
"You're not a monster. But you're more destructive."
"Wow... That's really hurtful. You let that guy stick around, though."
Kasha pointed at me. Why drag me into this again?
"Gob is my assistant. That's why he's here."
"He's your assistant?"
Kasha scowled deeply.
What the hell is your problem? Just leave me alone.
"What does he even help you with?"
"Nothing yet."
"What? So he's just taking up space without doing jack?"
Her words grated, but she wasn't wrong.
Sera had said pretty much the same thing.
I drooped my ears and hung my head.
"He's not just taking up space. He'll be useful soon. Gob is capable."
"Ha, capable how? He looks like a total useless goblin to me. Lowly creature. Small-fry monster."
'Useless goblin', 'lowly creature', 'small-fry monster'.
Every word stabbed like a blade into my gut.
I'd usually brush it off, but after Sera ripped open the wound, this just tore it wider. My mental game's crumbling...
"Gob is smart. He knows multiplication."
"What? Really?"
A mildly surprised reaction. Like hearing a monkey can do math.
"Hmm... So what? You don't know multiplication?"
"I do."
"Then yeah, he's pretty useless."
"Too early to judge."
"What's left to see? Why are you defending him so much? You like him or something?"
"Just stating facts."
"Tch."
Kasha clicked her tongue and turned to me.
"Hey, what's that around your neck? A dog collar?"
She marched over and yanked the notepad and pen from around my neck.
Snap! The string broke.
Kasha snatched my notepad. I didn't want to give it up, but the strength gap was too big.
"Why do you wear this around your neck?"
"It's a communication notepad."
Lucy answered.
"Communication notepad? What's that for?"
Kasha flipped the notepad around, inspecting it.
"Gob writes on it to talk."
"He can write?"
"Yes."
"For real?"
Kasha's eyes widened bigger than before as she stared at me.
Apparently, knowing how to write surprised her more than multiplication.
"Hey, write something. Anything."
Kasha shoved the notepad at me.
I glared at her face. You think I'll write just 'cause you say so?
"Write nicely, or take a hit first?"
Damn bitch. Fine, just this once...
No choice. I scribbled on the notepad.
[What.]
I wrote just one word and held it out.
"What? This little shit's got attitude!"
Flick! A knuckle rap flew at my head.
"Kek!"
A death-rattle scream escaped me.
Damn. Did she fire a gun? My head feels split open.
I rubbed the spot where she'd flicked me.
"Kasha. Don't bully Gob."
"That wasn't bullying, it was discipline. The little punk talks back too much."
"If Gob does something wrong, tell me."
Yeah, you bitch! Quit picking fights and get lost!
I stuck my tongue out at Kasha.
"You little—!"
As Kasha raised her fist again,
"Kasha."
A clear voice rang in my ear.
Like an echo in a transparent ice cave.
"If you bully Gob again, I'll banish you from my space."
Her blue eyes fixed on Kasha.
Kasha flinched at the chilling atmosphere and slowly lowered her arm.
"No, he's the one mocking me. Didn't you see him stick his tongue out just now?"
"I didn't."
"You should've seen it. That long tongue sticking out—totally gross."
She's shaking with rage. Totally worth it.
"Gob. Did you stick your tongue out to tease her?"
-Nod nod.
I answered Lucy's question honestly.
"No teasing. Apologize to Kasha."
I quickly scribbled on the notepad.
[Sorry.]
I wrote it and held it out to Kasha.
"Ha, he acts all cocky with me but listens to you perfectly?"
Kasha snorted in disbelief.
"Gob is a good boy."
Lucy's words made me awkwardly scratch my cheek, embarrassed.
I like her straightforwardness, but she says stuff like that so casually it gets awkward.
"That's why Sera's jealous of you—'cause you keep defending the goblin."
Kasha said, narrowing her eyes.
"Did Sera say that?"
"Yeah. Found her collapsed holding her head, so I asked what was up, and she said that too."
"Sera collapsed? Is she okay?"
"I took her to her room, but it's not something medicine can fix."
Not a sickness that heals with medicine... She must mean the curse on Sera.
"Be nice to Sera. You know her condition's bad."
"Got it."
"Hmph. This place is a total downer. Guess I'll go hunting in the woods. Later."
Kasha left the lab without hesitation.
Now it was just me and Lucy left in the lab.
"Gob."
"Keruk?"
"Tomorrow's Sera's 'Purification' day."
Purification. I had a rough idea from the diary.
Put politely, it's periodically draining the Yin Energy built up in Sera's body.
To put it bluntly, relieving her sexual urges through caressing.
"You're coming too tomorrow."
...Me too?